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The
Zeta Project was a spin-off from the second season Batman Beyond episode “Zeta.” It centered on Infiltration Unit Zeta
(Diedrich Bader), a synthoid designed to carry out covert assassination
missions for the National Security Agency
through the use of his holographic disguises. However, it was learned that his
creator, Dr.
Selig (George Segal &
Hal Linden), installed a module in Zeta
that gave him a conscience. On his last mission for the NSA, Zeta’s target
proved to be innocent and he decided he could no longer kill.

Zeta and Ro running from Agents Bennet and West.

The agency, believing Zeta a
dangerous rogue element that joined the terrorist organization he was
investigating, Brother’s Day, dispatched a team with the sole purpose of either
retrieving or destroying him. It was led by Agent James Bennet (Kurtwood
Smith), who strongly believed Zeta was simply reprogrammed by enemies and not
an actually sentient being. Under him was the young and egotistical Agent West
(Michael Rosenbaum) and Agent Lee (Lauren Tom), who grew to see there was more
to Zeta than they believed and began to subtly help him evade capture. When Lee
left the team and was subsequently promoted, she was replaced by by-the-book Agent
Rush (Erika Alexander & Dominique Jennings). Other foes during the series
included the cybernetically-enhanced bounty hunter Krick (Keith Szarabajka & Richard Moll), cyber-hackers
Plug (Paul Amendt), Meg (Amy Danles) and Buss (Googy Gress), high-ranking
Brother’s Day terrorist Titus
Sweete (Robert Costanzo),
and his more-advanced counterpart, Infiltration Unit 7 (Bader).

Infiltration Unit 7.

Joining Zeta on his adventures was
15-year-old orphan Rosalie “Ro” Rowan (Julie Nathanson). Initially seeing Zeta
as an opportunity, Ro came to care about Zeta and decided to help him on his
quest. Zeta also worked to help her locate her biological family. Occasionally,
they were aided in their efforts by child genius Bucky
Buenaventura (Ulises Cuadra
& Blaine Barbosa), who was a whiz with technology. Batman
(Will Friedle) also made a
singular appearance on the show, aiding Zeta against IU 7.

The
Zeta Project debuted on The
WB on January 27, 2001 as part of their Kids’ WB! programming
block. The series was developed by Robert
Goodman, who created Zeta and wrote his debut episode. “Zeta” wasn’t
originally intended as a backdoor pilot, but Goodman decided that the concept
could make a decent series and within the year, the network agreed. Zeta’s
appearance was reworked to make him appear more human, and he and Bennett’s
voices were recast having been originally played by Gary Cole and Joe Spano, respectively.

Zeta's original appearance on Batman Beyond.

Although it was part of the DC Animated Universe
and produced by Warner
Bros. Animation, the series’ first season had a decidedly different appearance than all of the
other programs. The scenery was generally very light and the characters lacked
any sort of shading, as well had an overall differing appearance from the
models seen since the debut of Superman:
The Animated Series. The stories themselves also took on a
comparatively lighter tonality than the rest of the DCAU.

The
Zeta Project managed to generate decent ratings and a loyal fanbase despite
episodes being constantly delayed to allow the network time to run new--and
often failed--programs in its timeslot. The network also handed down a mandate
that if they wanted to see a third season, the second had to end on a
cliffhanger. They also had plans for the third season that took the show placed
that Goodman wasn’t
completely happy about. All of that proved moot, however, when the network
ultimately decided not to renew the show. During its run, it managed to earn
four Annie Awards and two Daytime Emmy Awards nominations, and
won two Women’s Image Network Awards.
Zeta’s debut also earned an Annie nomination.